“What are we eating?”
He turned fast and found her standing far too close. All her dancing had intensified her scent, that of sweet lotion and her sweeter skin. His nostrils flared on a deep breath as he filled his head with her.
“Leese?” Teasing, she swirled her drink and took another sip. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah.” He would stop letting her work him, starting right now. Covering her hand on the glass with his own, he tipped it forward and sniffed. “Bourbon?”
“It was that or gin, whiskey or beer.” With a wrinkle of her nose, she said, “No wine.”
“Really?” Gently, he took the tumbler from her and set it on the counter. “Judging by your glassy eyes, I’d say you’ve probably had enough.”
“Why are you forever trying to curb my appetites?” She stepped against him, all warm, fragrant woman on the make.
God help him. “Cat—”
“First you rule out junk food, then sex, then dancing. And now—”
For the sake of his own sanity, Leese smooshed a finger to her lips. “Stop baiting me.”
She lightly bit him, then sucked his finger into her mouth. With a soft sound of pleasure, she twirled her tongue around him.
Instant boner.
Watching her only made it worse, seeing the way her heavy lashes lowered to hide her eyes, how her lips closed around him.
With both hands holding his wrist, she kept him right there, making him think of blow jobs and release.
By force of will, he got himself together. “Enough, Cat. This isn’t going to happen.”
She bit him lightly, the released him. “You’re so mean.”
“And you’re drunk.”
“Just tipsy.”
Holding her by the elbows, he kept her an arm’s length away. “This situation hasn’t gotten better. If anything, now that you’re tipsy, you’re more off-limits than ever.”
For the longest time she looked at him, judging his sincerity, probably considering ways she might get around his decision, and finally accepted that she couldn’t.
“I looked around the penthouse,” she told him. “Checked out all the rooms, what’s stored where and all the windows and doors and...everything.”
Familiarizing herself with her new surroundings, just in case. Smart. He planned to do the same before bed. But he didn’t want her worrying, and beyond that, he wanted her to trust that he’d protect her. It was his job, so she could relax now. “You’re safe here.”
“I know. I believe it.” She stepped away from him and pulled out a bar stool. It took her a second to maneuver with the dress, but she got that stellar little ass onto the stool and propped her elbows on the bar. Not looking at him, she said, “Sometimes knowing and believing something isn’t enough to shake the fear.”
What would be enough? No, better not to ask her that. He already had an idea of what she’d say, and he didn’t need to be further provoked.
The dress fell to the side, showing her trim calf, smooth thigh...all the way up to her hip.
His abs tightened.
“What does that mean, exactly?”
“It means this place seems secure enough, but old habits die hard. I’ve gotten used to barely sleeping, listening for trouble, being ready to run in an instant if need be.” She tipped her head to see him. Her hair was now more down than up, as if she’d just been laid. “Sleeping with you was the best rest I’ve had in weeks.”
Ah, hell. That hit him on two levels; it made him want to strip her naked, and it made him want to hold her protectively close.
He wanted to hear her scream with a climax, and he wanted to feel her resting easy against him.
“I’ll back off,” she promised, her gaze locked on his. “If you let me sleep with you again.”
Leese barely suppressed the groan. It was what he’d wanted; hell, keeping her that close would make it a whole lot easier for him to sleep too. He’d be able to rest secure in the knowledge that she couldn’t sneak off.
But now, after seeing her like this, after she’d been teasing him?
Sleep probably wasn’t on the agenda, no matter what.
Still holding his gaze, Cat whispered, “I’m sorry. I can see by your expression that you’re not much interested in that either. And if I wasn’t so weird, if I was more like my family, I’d back off. But I can’t, because I don’t want to sleep alone. Not when you’re here.”
Him, specifically, or would she have felt the same about any other dude?
As if she’d read his mind, she said, “I trust you. At least a little.”
“Enough to sleep?”
“Yes.”
He hoped that was true. Nutting up, he nodded and said, “You’re not weird, so stop saying that. Especially since I was hoping you’d want to sleep—sleep, Cat—with me again. We both need to catch some shut-eye.”
A slow smile added to her appeal. “You really are a good guy.”
Leese braced himself, but after she slid off the stool, she only hugged him—a platonic, friendly, grateful hug.
“Thank you.” Stepping back, she dusted her hands together and said, “So what are we eating? I’m starved.”
*
THEY HAD QUICK, crunchy tuna wraps that were surprisingly good, especially since it was real food, fresh and she didn’t have to help make it. Even though she could taste some baby spinach in there, it didn’t detract from her enjoyment. They were delicious, and would tide her over for a few hours.
She popped the last bite in her mouth, and after she’d swallowed, she asked, “What are you doing for dinner?”
“So you agree that I’m the chef?”
“Sure. Unlike you, I don’t like to deny people.”
He pretended to take that on the chin, then laughed. “If I’m cooking, you have to eat it.”
“Deal.” She could make the basics, but she didn’t have a lot of interest in it. Usually she was drawn to her sketchbook and food was forgotten.
She did help with the dishes, then took the time to show him everything she’d discovered. The balcony was her favorite. It overlooked...everything, with heated handrails to keep the ice and snow away, and a cozy electric fire pit that gave the ambience of a real fire with the ease of flipping a switch.
“Why,” Leese asked, “would anyone heat an outdoor area?”
“To enjoy it in the winter, of course. Maybe we can eat a meal out here.”
Leese tested the air, even opened his coat, then shook his head in wonder. “Sure, maybe,” he promised her. “Not today though.”
“Why?”
“I want to do some more surveillance first.”
Ah. If they were sitting outside, in the open, they could be targets. Cat nudged him with her shoulder. “I like the way you think. Come on, I’ll show you the rest.”
He was as curious about the setup of the penthouse as she’d been, all the egresses, the nooks and crannies, closets, an attic, the security system... Leese also thought of things she hadn’t, like where to hide weapons.
“I’ll be with you,” he told her. “And when I’m not, I promise you’ll be protected. But to be even safer—”